History and Development of The Industrial Gas Turbine

This history of the industrial gas turbine covers the emergence of the first practical gas turbine around 1939 with Part 1 covering the first 50 years from 1940-1990. Additionally the history traces the work of the Pioneers and how their contributions lead to the introduction of the first practical gas turbine engines.

The Industrial Gas Turbine

Industrial Gas Turbine Applications

Sunday, 23 January 2011

The History and Development of the Industrial Gas Turbine - Since 1940

Updated 24 June 16Invitation to contributors: The work on researching and publishing this history of The Industrial Gas Turbine continues. Contributors are cordially invited to make further comments and provide additional contributions to add to the industrial gas turbine archive. Any comments on the listing of gas turbines will be appreciated. Recollections of earlier times are welcomed as together we can add to the background of the gas turbine development and the people involved. One supporter has just sent the author a copy of Practical Mechanics from May 1946. This has an article on the development of the aircraft jet engine. Perhaps you have documents or photos that you would like to contribute to the archive. Send in anything you think will help. During 2011 the Author prepared a comprehensive history of the development of the Industrial Gas Turbine covering the first 70 years in the progress of the gas turbine for land based, industrial and marine applications. The history of more than 80 engineering companies is included. This story started around 1940 when, following the success of Brown Boveri and the Whittle aircraft engine, with UK governmental support, during the 1940's, a number of British companies enthusiastically entered the race to exploit the concept of the gas turbine for power generation, propulsion and other purposes. The companies involved included British, European, US, Japanese and others.

This has proved to be a really an exciting story and one which turned out to be a race with many challengers. The work of the early Pioneers has also been reviewed and so far more than 26 individual pioneer contributions leading to the success of the industrial gas turbine have been identified. This historical account, being more than being simply a historical account, has been a collaboration of many individuals all of whom have willingly shared their experiences, knowledge, information and advice. The written account gives due recognition to all these contributors.

Several different technological approaches as well as progress in gas turbine operational conditions and performance development have been reviewed. The many different applications of the industrial gas turbine have been researched including power generation, mechanical drive, marine propulsion, road transport, locomotive engines and others. The different types of fuels used in the industrial gas turbine are mentioned. Research Institutions have been listed as well as listing a number of notable gas turbine installations being described for this period of the industrial gas turbine story.

In preparing the history, in addition to the contributions by all the Contributors, the Author has drawn on the archives of professional institutions, historical documents, and a number of other sources. An extensive list of references is has been provided with the history.

Part 1 has already been published during 2011 and the next part of the story is being prepared during 2016. It is planned that this will cover the following 25 years (1990-2015) to bring the industrial gas turbine up to its current advanced state of development and a view of the future. This is a story that continues with present day designers striving to reach ever increasing targets of performance, higher operating conditions and increasing flexibility of operation.

Since the Blog was first posted in January 2011 the following presentations have been made:

IDGTE in Peterborough January 2011 Newcomen Society in Newcastle upon Tyne April 2011IMechE IET joint meeting in Lincoln April 2011Cranfield University in May 2011

IMechE at Lutterworth in November 2011IMechE at Brooklands in January 2012APPP Bangkok Thailand in February 2012IDGTE MENA Region Tunisia in April 2012BSI Gas Turbine Committee March 2013Cranfield University in May 2013IDGTE Gas Turbine Conference Nov 2013 - displayIDGTE Gas Turbine Conference Nov 2015 - display

Acknowledgements:This history and development of the gas turbine documents the achievements of the gas turbine manufacturers listed below. Each of these have been studied and the developments of each manufacturer analysed:

W H Allen- United Kingdom

ACECAteliers De Constructions

AEG Kanis- Germany

Allison Gas Turbine Division

Allis Chalmers USA

Alsthom Turbines - France

Ansaldo Energia - Italy

Associated Electrical Industries (AEI) - United Kingdom

Austin Motors - United Kingdom

Bristol Siddeley - United Kingdom

British Thomson Houston - United Kingdom

Brown Boveri (BBC) - Switzerland

Brush Electrical - United KingdomBladon Jets - United Kingdom

BMW- Germany

Budworth Turbines - United Kingdom

Bharat Heavy Electricals - India

Centrax Gas Turbines - United Kingdom

C A Parsons - United Kingdom

Chrysler Corporation USA

Cooper Bessemer/ Cooper Rolls USA

Curtiss Wright USA

Dresser Industries USA

Elliott Turbomachinery USA

English Electric - United Kingdom

Escher Wyss - Switzerland

Ebara Corporation - Japan

Fiat Termomeccanica - Italy

Ford - Mid Continent USA

Fuji Electric – Japan

General Electric Company - United Kingdom

General Electric USA

Garrett Corporation USA

Hitachi – Japan

IHI - Japan

Ingersoll Rand USA

John Brown - United Kingdom

Japan Gas Turbine

Kongsberg - Norway

Kawasaki Heavy Industries - Japan

Klockner Humboldt Deutz (KHD) - Germany

Leyland Gas Turbines - United Kingdom

Metropolitan Vickers - United Kingdom

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) - Japan

Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding - Japan

Nuovo Pignone - Italy

Turbotecnica - France

Orenda Engines USA

OPRA Optimal

Rolls-Royce Industrial and Marine - United Kingdom

Rover Company - United Kingdom

Ruston & Hornsby - United Kingdom

Siemens - Germany

Skoda - Czech Republic

Solar Turbines USA

Stal-Laval Turbine Company - Sweden

Sulzer Brothers - Switzerland

Toshiba Corporation - Japan

Turbomeca - France

THM MAN

United Technologies USA

Volvo- Sweden

Westinghouse USA

Waukesha Motor Company USA

Author's Note. All contributions to this history are most welcome. PLEASE post your comments here on the Blog and share your experience. Email your comments and questions. Send in any related information and photographs to further the development of this important archive. Thanking you for your interest.
Ronald Huntronald.hunt@power-energy.co.uk